A former Long Island official has been charged with sexually abusing a young woman who worked for him, and cheating on his Nassau County expense account by charging a luxury trip to London with his wife.

Former Deputy Nassau County Executive Peter Sylver, 35, of Westbury, was charged yesterday with a felony – falsifying documents – and three misdemeanors of official misconduct, coercion and sex abuse, said Nassau District Attorney Denis Dillon.

The criminal charges fell far short of past sensational allegations by Democrat Sylver’s Republican rivals in the Nassau County Legislature. They accused the politician of rape and claimed he misspent millions of dollars in federal funds.

His lawyer said the whole affair was a political vendetta.

Dillon said Sylver subjected a young female employee “to intimate physical contact without that person’s consent” in his official car outside county headquarters in Mineola Aug. 20, 2003.

He also falsely claimed the $3,400 trip in June 2002 to attend a conference on criminal justice in London was related to his work as the county housing chief, Dillon said.

The DA also said Sylver charged $772 in personal items on an official credit card, including lodging, meals and entertainment.

Sylver’s lawyer, Stephen Worth, denied all the charges, including the claim that Sylver sexually abused his female assistant. “There was no sex. It’s all about politics,” Worth said.

The Republicans, Worth claimed, were seeking to “smear” the new Democratic administration of County Executive Thomas Suozzi. “Peter Sylver maintains his innocence throughout this.”

Worth said his client, who may face disbarment as a lawyer, has changed careers and will become a minister. “He’s now attending a divinity school and has no desire to be in the political arena,” Worth said.